Gravitating hinge.



W. E. RAPE.

GRAVITATING HINGE. APPL'IOMION FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

937,543, Patented Oct. 19,1909.

ave M01 Wit/MW W1 lharn Elia pe WILLIAM ELMER RAPE, 0F CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAVITATING HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Application filed. June 2, 1909. Serial No. 499,801.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. RAPE, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Catawissa, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravitating Hinges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My present invention relates to improvements in gravitating hinges, and has special reference to a hinge composed of wire or cast metal, the same constituting two members when used upon a door or gate to swing one way, or three members when the door or gate is to swing two ways. Each of the members are provided with a spiral portion which co-aots with the spiral portion of the adjacent member, so that as the door or gate is swung open the said door or gate is raised by the action of the coils working upon each, the weight of the door or gate when released causing the same to operate the hinge, descending, to close the door or gate.

To clearly understand my invention, attention is invited to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gate which swings both ways with my hinge for permitting such action. Fig. 2 is a detail plan of said hinge.

Referring to the drawings :My hinge is made of wire preferably and is what I term a double gravitating hinge, in as much as it is designed to permit a gate or door to swing upon both sides of its post or jamb, respectively. This hinge consists of two members 5, each one of which is substantially U-shaped in construction and is provided with the spiral 8, which co-acts with the spirals 7 of the central substantially rectangular open member 6. It will be seen that the two co-acting pairs of spirals, are so arran ed as to operate one pair, as the gate or oor is pushed in, and to operate the other pair as the gate or door is pushed out, the gate or door being returned by gravity to the closed position.

What I claim, is

A hinge, comprising members adapted to engage the post and gate or door, respectively, each of one being provided with a spiral, and another member provided with two spirals adapted to co-act with the respective spirals of the other members to permit the gate or door to be opened in two directions and to return the gate or door by gravity to closed position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature I in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ELMER RAPE.

Witnesses:

WM. M. GRIMEs, M. W. KOSTENBANDER. 

